{
  "id": 10438331,
  "title": "Irish players refuse handshakes, wear black armbands in Nation Leagues clash against Israel",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/irish-players-refuse-handshakes-wear-black-armbands-in-nation-leagues",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T11:56:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2033285/irish-players-refuse-handshakes-wear-black-armbands-in-nation-leagues-clash-against-israel"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a solemn atmosphere at the Nations League match between Ireland and Israel, the Irish players made a poignant statement by refusing to shake hands with their opponents and donning black armbands to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Held at the near-empty Debrecen stadium in Hungary, the teams skipped the customary pre-match handshakes and did not exchange pennants. Troy Parrott opened the scoring for Ireland in the 14th minute, and Jack Moylan added a third goal in the 25th minute, pausing to kiss the Irish badge and his black armband after scoring. Ireland's coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, emphasized that the team had \"raised awareness worldwide\" about the situation in Gaza. The match, initially in doubt due to pressure to boycott it, proceeded with full support from Irish players, despite one, goalkeeper Gavin Buzunu, opting to withdraw due to concerns over participating in a match that honored a nation involved in the \"killing of innocent people.\" Irish manager Hallgrimsson expressed hope that this stance would inspire future games to also show solidarity with the protest. The decision to play came after Ireland's players overwhelmingly voted in favor of participating, despite national calls to boycott the fixture. The match's significance was amplified by the historical context, as Irish sportspeople and fans have long voiced their opposition to matches that coincide with Israel's actions in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the Irish players for being \"on the wrong side of history,\" referencing Ireland's past neutrality during WWII and its recognition of a Palestinian state in 2024. Despite the controversy, Ireland's players maintained their commitment to raising awareness and showing support for the Palestinian cause.",
  "summary": "Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in a Nations League clash on Sunday amid an eerie and sombre atmosphere that saw the Irish players wear black armbands over the war in Gaza. Ireland’s players also bowed their heads as the Israeli national anthem was played at the near-empty Debrecen stadium in Hungary. The teams skipped the traditional pre-match handshakes and did not exchange pennants either. Troy…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "'A loss for Irish football': Ireland victory over Israel leaves sour taste",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/a-loss-for-irish-football-ireland-victory-over-israel-leaves-sour",
        "published": "2026-09-28T12:35:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}